Lee LoadMaster .223 Turret Style Reloading - Quick Demo

Reloading .223 ammunition using the Lee LoadMaster press in the slower turret style operation, where each operation takes place in series.

Station 1 - Load the brass to be full length resized.

Station 2 - The primer is inserted.

Station 3 - The powder is measured and dropped into the case.

Station 4 - A bullet is placed in the case neck and the bullet is seated to the proper overall length. Before placing the bullet, I always visually verify the correct powder charge.

Station 5 - The neck is securely crimped with the Lee Factory Crimp die.

The cycle time is about 20 seconds per round, taking my time and being thorough. Be sure to dwell an extra second at the top of the powder drop station, because it takes a little while for the powder to fill a tall bottle neck rifle case.

The press is designed to operate much faster, as a full progressive, but this slower method is good while learning the process, or fine tuning the press. It also allows a better feel for each of the processes, and may produce somewhat more accurate ammo because there are less variations. For example, a case that is more difficult to resize could cause a slightly shallow bullet seating or less neck crimp if reloading in full progressive mode with all operations occurring simultaneously at each stage.

Before I start reloading rifle brass, I have already removed the old primer, trimmed the case to the proper length, chamfered the inside and outside of the neck, polished the brass and sprayed on the case lube (Lee Case Lube, mixed with four parts of 91% isopropyl alcohol, available in the pharmacy aisle of grocery stores, Walmart, etc.).